Saban says A.J. McCarron could have returned to game

The only test administered Saturday night was the one Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron underwent — and passed — for a back contusion he suffered during the third quarter of the eventual 38-7 win over the Bulldogs. McCarron was taken to the locker room early in the fourth quarter when the game had been all but officially decided. After the game, Nick Saban said his quarterback would have been fine to return if needed (which clearly he wasn’t).

Suffice to say, McCarron will be ready for next weekend’s showdown at LSU. McCarron’s been knocked around in recent weeks, but so far it’s been nothing serious — at least not as serious as McCarron’s Heisman stock. The Tide QB may not come away with the trophy — K-State’sCollin Klein continues to lead that pack — but his interception-less season that also includes 18 passing touchdowns is, at this point, worthy of at least an invite to the Big Apple.

Considering that Alabama QBs Bart Starr, Joe Namath, and Kenny Stabler–with their seven NFL championships and two Hall of Fame busts–weren’t even Heisman finalists, a New York invite would make AJ unique in Bama quarterbacking history. Go, AJ!